IPL Fantasy Guide: MI vs RCB

17 Apr 2018

One of the highest billed contests of the IPL comes to Mumbai on Tuesday evening as Mumbai Indians prepare to host their third match at home this season against Royal Challengers Bangalore. The game will witness Rohit Sharma taking on Virat Kohli in what is likely to be a run fest at the Wankhede. MI haven’t registered a single win in the tournament in their first three games, and will be hoping to turn their fortunes around with a win against RCB. Bangalore too have not had the best start with two losses in their first three encounters, and will be looking to improve their record against MI.

Mumbai Indians:

The story of the IPL for them so far has been a problem at the top – Rohit Sharma not firing. While Evin Lewis has displayed form along with Ishan Kishan and Suryakumar Yadav’s steady knocks, MI is still awaiting a big knock from their skipper. If MI are to win on Tuesday, the key performers for them will have to be the three players they retained – Rohit, Hardik and Bumrah. Mayank Markande continues to impress everyone with each passing game and his four overs in the middle will be crucial given RCB’s strong batting lineup.

Key Fantasy Picks: Evin Lewis will be looking to convert his starts to get a big score and this might be the day to do it. The other key fantasy pick from MI will be Krunal Pandya who has dismissed de Villiers in every appearance against him and he can do well with the bat as well.

Royal Challengers Bangalore:

Virat Kohli will be looking to make some changes to his XI to try and plug in the holes for RCB. Given how Washington Sundar batted in the last game, RCB could look to use him as an opener with McCullum being rested to add another all rounder Colin de Grandhomme. Kulwant Khejroliya hasn’t quite done as well as expected and Mohammed Siraj could find himself in the XI in his place at the Wankhede. The batting will have to fire on all cylinders with the onus on de Kock, Kohli and de Villiers.

Key Fantasy Picks: Virat Kohli showed signs of top form against RR and will look to use that knock as a base to start scoring big runs. Washington Sundar is the other key man for RCB because his four overs in the middle will be crucial along with his big hits, irrespective of which position he bats at.